May 6, 2015 · Team HG
Exactly five years after his passing, the first Driekdag takes place in Groningen. Friends, poets, and musicians commemorate the poet Driek van Wissen on Thursday, May 21. The program takes place in Café Wolthoorn & Co on Turftorenstraat, and the participating artists will recite the work of Van Wissen alongside their own work.
The participating poets are: Jean Pierre Rawie, Jan Boerstoel, Jan Kal, city poet Kasper Peters, and Ben Hoogland, winner of the sonnet competition. In addition to their own work, they will also recite their favorite Van Wissen poem. Musicians Melvin Bonnet and George Welling each composed a song especially for this afternoon based on a text by Driek. Dr. J.P. van de Sande will talk about the poet Driek in Groningen, and Johan Meier will recite his beloved Driek verse.
Driek van Wissen (1943-2010) already had several publications with Jean Pierre Rawie to his name before he made his debut in 1978 with *Het mooiste meisje van de klas*. Many collections followed, and he also wrote for the *Dagblad van het Noorden*. From 2005 to 2009, Van Wissen served as Poet Laureate of the Netherlands.
The program is not only free, but every visitor also receives a gift designed by Frans le Roux and Bruno Beukema. The program runs from 17:00 to 19:00, with doors opening at 16:30.
May 21st, Epiphany, the beginning of a hopefully long tradition.
YouTube: May 29, 2010 – Many pay their last respects to Driek van Wissen
